Furious residents have blocked diggers and brought work to a standstill to stop a green space being flattened.

People living around the site on Venables Way took matters into their own hands to halt plans to level two small hills, named locally after kids' TV show Tellytubbies for their resemblance to hills featured in the programme, on Tuesday night August 15.

The mass protest also involved people parking their cars along the route to the green mounds behind the Carlton Centre.

Protestor Sandy Macfarlane said: "We got whispers there were diggers on the land so I went up with a few other residents and stopped the work.

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"None of the local residents were aware of this and it's a popular area for children to play."

Once word got around the work was taking place, people living nearby were livid, taking to social media to vent their frustration.

One wrote on facebook: "Spoke to a young guy today...they are removing the hillocks. I am livid! Who gets the council to pay for stuff no one wants doing, when we can't get them to fund a proper playground? #fuming do other people have children who love this play space?"

Another said: "I can't understand it so many people use them and the kids love them, it's going to ruin the whole look of that area! Why did the council not contact any residents... or do they not have to?"

Mr Macfarlane, a chef who has lived on the Carlton estate for 14 years, said residents will also be in talks with developers about the work.

Steve Bird, assistant director of communities and street scene at City of Lincoln Council, said:

"The area of land off Venables Way is currently owned and maintained by Linden Homes. We are contacting them to suggest that they consult with residents in the area and if the strong opinion is to keep the mounds that they then put in place an arrangement for the area’s ongoing maintenance.

"Unfortunately, parts of that area are too steep for our contractors’ grass-cutting equipment to be used safely, so we would be unable to take on the maintenance in its current state."